1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 909

 1-3                                  In Memory

 1-4                                     of

 1-5                          John Douglas Witherspoon

 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of Texas joins the citizens of McKinney

 1-7     in mourning the untimely loss of former Collin County Commissioner

 1-8     John Douglas Witherspoon, who died on May 16, 1997, at the age of

 1-9     41; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Born on January 28, 1956, in Del Rio, he was the

1-11     son of Harriette A. Dodson and Herschel F. Witherspoon; he and his

1-12     family moved to McKinney in 1960; he attended the local schools and

1-13     pursued his love of scouting and earned the Eagle Scout award; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Graduating from McKinney High School in 1974, John

1-15     attended Texas Christian University and graduated in 1978; he

1-16     returned to McKinney and established his own business, Witherspoon

1-17     Financial Services; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Elected Collin County Commissioner, Precinct Three,

1-19     in 1988, he was the first Republican from McKinney to be elected to

1-20     that position, and he was reelected in 1992 by a landslide vote; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Noted for his courage in the face of his physical

1-22     disabilities, Mr. Witherspoon was dedicated to his work, and he

1-23     earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, A man who wanted to give back to his community, he

 2-2     was an active and hardworking county commissioner, and among his

 2-3     accomplishments were his support of the Well Infant Care program,

 2-4     continued county funding for rural ambulance services and the

 2-5     volunteer fire departments, and his support of the annual

 2-6     Collin County Cleanup Day; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, A devout Christian, he was a member of the Westside

 2-8     Church of Christ; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father, John will be remembered

2-10     for his strength of character and for his generosity of spirit; now,

2-11     therefore, be it

2-12           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-13     75th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the members

2-14     of his family:  his wife, Teresa; his sons, Jacob Ashley Sloan and

2-15     John Harrison Witherspoon; his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Witherspoon;

2-16     and his parents, Herschel and Harriette Witherspoon; and, be it

2-17     further

2-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his

2-19     family as an expression of the deepest sympathy of the Texas Senate,

2-20     and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-21     John Douglas Witherspoon.

2-22                                                                 Shapiro

2-23                                                                 Ratliff

2-24                                  ______________________________________

2-25                                         President of the Senate

2-26                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-27                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-1                                  on May 28, 1997, by a rising vote.

 3-2                                  ______________________________________

 3-3                                         Secretary of the Senate

 3-4                                  ______________________________________

 3-5                                           Member, Texas Senate

 3-6                                  ______________________________________

 3-7                                           Member, Texas Senate